1936 Luger stamped symbols?

NJG26Capricorn · 02-12-2008, 08:09 PM

Hello All, My name is John,
I am new to the site and just had a few ?'s

The symbols stamped on the right side of the firearm and barrel I assume are factory markings as to what factory it was made?

I will post some pics ( and trying my best to draw the marking)

If someone knows these symbols and what they mean or where I can reference some markings to compare?

Thank you,

Also I have this 1938 Luger with a fancy looking gold eagle and a swastika under the eagle. ( all matching parts s/n 4797)
The bottom of the clip has a wood finger grip (but s/n on it is 2861 with a symbol under it i cant make out.(I assume they used wood to cut down on use of metals later in the war)
As far as the gold symbol, Is this something found on an officers model? or is this something added after factory by another person to personalize it so to say?

One last ? ,
I have a P.38 luger all matching parts s/n but I do not see a date stamped anywhere How can I tell what year this Firearm is?

Thank you for any help, John

John Sabato · 02-13-2008, 10:02 AM

The 5994 n is your serial number. The letter suffix is a part of the serial number but only appears on the front of the frame above the trigger guard. The 4 digit number on the side of the upper receiver does not normally have the suffix letter. The 2 digit numbers 94 on all the small parts are the last two digits of the serial number. If you find no small parts with a different two digit code then your Luger is all matching, and worth considerably more than one with mismatched numbers.

The S/42 was the Mauser factory wartime production code during the year it was manufactured. Other codes they used include just "42" and "byf"

The different 4 digit serial number on your magazine indicates that it was originally issued with a different pistol by that serial number. It is therefore, non-matching. Matching magazines are very rare.

The digit "1" on the magazine indicates that it was the primary magazine for the pistol it was issued with. The secondary magazine would have a "2" stamped in that location. I am not sure about the "S" with the "SUN" type stamp because I don't have my references at hand, but I think this may have been manufactured by the the Simson company... another Luger manufacturer... someone who knows will correct me if I am wrong.

The gold symbol on the sideplate of your 1838 Luger was added by some owner to personalize it as you have suggested. It does not increase the value of the gun unless there is documented proof that the gun belonged to some famous German soldier or politician. Not very likely. Adding this type of work to a military issued Luger would have been against regulations. It was probably done by the GI who captured the weapon and brought it home.

The P.38 (is not a Luger, but fires the same ammo). It was designed by the Walther factory and was produced by several arsenals. Your photo is not clear enough to see the markings on the slide. The markings should be "P.38" the full serial number including the suffix letter, the maufacturing code: "AC"... this was the wartime code for the Walther factory. If the gun was made by Mauser, it would be "byf" and if assembled at the Spreewerke arsenal, it would be "cyq"

There should also be a two digit number in close proximity to the manufacture code... I can't make it out in your photo, but the two digit number is the year it was made. (41 to 45)

NJG26Capricorn · 02-13-2008, 06:23 PM

Thank you so much for the Info John,
I have learned in 2 days here more about these firearms than I have in the past few years just browsing books and some other sites.

I will do a paint on that photo to give ya a better understanding of the #'s
Hope this pic will give ya more info - sorry I have an old digital cam (time to get a new one)

Thank you again, John McC

John Sabato · 02-13-2008, 06:29 PM

For a more complete information on your P.38 I strongly suggest you post your photos and your information on our sister forum P38forum.com

A great bunch of guys over there too... many also belong here. They will be able to tell you as much about your P38 as there is to know.

NJG26Capricorn · 02-13-2008, 06:34 PM

Thanks John,
I will post the P.38 info over there. I still did not see a separate 2 digit # anywhere to indicate year, so maybe they can help more @ p38forum.

Again thank you for your time to reply - your other info was very helpful!!

, John

RichSr · 02-13-2008, 06:53 PM

Welcome John,

Your P-38 was manufactured by Spreewerk. They did not use the two digit year code as Walther and Mauser did. According to your serial number it left the factory in December of 1943

NJG26Capricorn · 02-14-2008, 12:00 AM

Thanks Rich,

It was Dec 43 got the info @ p38forums, then when I came back to Luger forum I saw your reply

thank you for posting reply.

02-12-2008, 08:09 PM	#1
NJG26Capricorn User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1936 Luger stamped symbols? Hello All, My name is John, I am new to the site and just had a few ?'s The symbols stamped on the right side of the firearm and barrel I assume are factory markings as to what factory it was made? I will post some pics ( and trying my best to draw the marking) If someone knows these symbols and what they mean or where I can reference some markings to compare? Thank you, Also I have this 1938 Luger with a fancy looking gold eagle and a swastika under the eagle. ( all matching parts s/n 4797) The bottom of the clip has a wood finger grip (but s/n on it is 2861 with a symbol under it i cant make out.(I assume they used wood to cut down on use of metals later in the war) As far as the gold symbol, Is this something found on an officers model? or is this something added after factory by another person to personalize it so to say? One last ? , I have a P.38 luger all matching parts s/n but I do not see a date stamped anywhere How can I tell what year this Firearm is? Thank you for any help, John

02-13-2008, 10:02 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Some of the markings... The 5994 n is your serial number. The letter suffix is a part of the serial number but only appears on the front of the frame above the trigger guard. The 4 digit number on the side of the upper receiver does not normally have the suffix letter. The 2 digit numbers 94 on all the small parts are the last two digits of the serial number. If you find no small parts with a different two digit code then your Luger is all matching, and worth considerably more than one with mismatched numbers. The S/42 was the Mauser factory wartime production code during the year it was manufactured. Other codes they used include just "42" and "byf" The different 4 digit serial number on your magazine indicates that it was originally issued with a different pistol by that serial number. It is therefore, non-matching. Matching magazines are very rare. The digit "1" on the magazine indicates that it was the primary magazine for the pistol it was issued with. The secondary magazine would have a "2" stamped in that location. I am not sure about the "S" with the "SUN" type stamp because I don't have my references at hand, but I think this may have been manufactured by the the Simson company... another Luger manufacturer... someone who knows will correct me if I am wrong. The gold symbol on the sideplate of your 1838 Luger was added by some owner to personalize it as you have suggested. It does not increase the value of the gun unless there is documented proof that the gun belonged to some famous German soldier or politician. Not very likely. Adding this type of work to a military issued Luger would have been against regulations. It was probably done by the GI who captured the weapon and brought it home. The P.38 (is not a Luger, but fires the same ammo). It was designed by the Walther factory and was produced by several arsenals. Your photo is not clear enough to see the markings on the slide. The markings should be "P.38" the full serial number including the suffix letter, the maufacturing code: "AC"... this was the wartime code for the Walther factory. If the gun was made by Mauser, it would be "byf" and if assembled at the Spreewerke arsenal, it would be "cyq" There should also be a two digit number in close proximity to the manufacture code... I can't make it out in your photo, but the two digit number is the year it was made. (41 to 45) __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-13-2008, 06:29 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	For a more complete information on your P.38 I strongly suggest you post your photos and your information on our sister forum P38forum.com A great bunch of guys over there too... many also belong here. They will be able to tell you as much about your P38 as there is to know. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-13-2008, 06:53 PM	#6
RichSr User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 128 Thanks: 154 Thanked 54 Times in 36 Posts	Welcome John, Your P-38 was manufactured by Spreewerk. They did not use the two digit year code as Walther and Mauser did. According to your serial number it left the factory in December of 1943 __________________ Rich

02-13-2008, 06:23 PM	#3
NJG26Capricorn User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you so much for the Info John, I have learned in 2 days here more about these firearms than I have in the past few years just browsing books and some other sites. I will do a paint on that photo to give ya a better understanding of the #'s Hope this pic will give ya more info - sorry I have an old digital cam (time to get a new one) Thank you again, John McC

02-13-2008, 06:34 PM	#5
NJG26Capricorn User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks John, I will post the P.38 info over there. I still did not see a separate 2 digit # anywhere to indicate year, so maybe they can help more @ p38forum. Again thank you for your time to reply - your other info was very helpful!! , John

02-14-2008, 12:00 AM	#7
NJG26Capricorn User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Rich, It was Dec 43 got the info @ p38forums, then when I came back to Luger forum I saw your reply thank you for posting reply.